THANE: Another issue that rocked the General Body meeting of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) was that of extension of three senior state officers and the induction of a fourth one in TMC service. These officers are on deputation to the corporation from the state government and the TMC requires the nod of the House to confirm their deputation service in the corporation.
The House was to decide on giving extension of one year to Dr BG Pawar, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner, in-charge of the anti-encroachment department. Dr Pawar was inducted into the civic cadre from the state government for one year and his term is to expire shortly. He has carried out a series of major demolitions during his tenure including some major ones in Diva where the TMC had no control at all.
The case of Geeta Kulkarni, an Assistant Municipal Commissioner, was also put before the House. Kulkarni is on deputation to the TMC from the state education department for a year and her term is to expire this month. The lady officer has been given the charge of the secondary section of the civic education department.
The tenure of Arvind Akashi, the Assistant Municipal Commissioner, in-charge of the independent vigilance wing of the octroi collection department, is also to expire later this month. He is on deputation from the state government and held the charge as Assistant Municipal Commissioner in-charge of Majiwada Manpada Ward Council (MMWC) as well as the Mumbra Ward Council (MWC) during his one year term.
The TMC recently inducted MB Patil, a Class I officer with the state government as a Deputy Municipal Commissioner. The official is supposed to take over the charge of civic headquarters from Venkatesh Bhat should the General Body confirm his deputation. Bhat has been given the independent charge of octroi collection department as a Deputy Municipal Commissioner.
The House was informed that the extensions and the lone induction were necessary to tide over the shortage of senior officials in TMC ranks. Members from the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance agreed to the extension of Kulkarni as well as Dr Pawar and confirmation of MB Patil.
The treasury benches were, however, not ready to grant extension to Akashi. The opposition stressed to continue the services of the vigilance wing chief for one year on the grounds that his services were required to plug the thefts and leakages in the collection of octroi to boost the octroi revenue in the current financial year.
The ruling alliance had to climb down on its demands for the Assistant Municipal Commissioner. The House then agreed on the four proposals in principle after the heated debate. The civic administration is likely to confirm the four in service for one year in the coming days.
courtesy:www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
